Imagine this: A preschooler named Emma is in her classroom, sitting cross-legged on the carpet with her peers. The teacher is enthusiastically leading a discussion about springtime changes, pointing to a picture of a blooming flower.

Emma sees the teacher, the vibrant pictures, and her classmates' excited expressions. But she’s only catching fragments of what’s being said. The conversation is moving too fast. The details are slipping away.

When the teacher asks a question, Emma hesitates. She looks around, unsure what’s expected. The moment passes. Another child answers, and the class moves on.

This is what missed opportunities look like for many young children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Without intentional intervention, effective accommodations, and skilled professionals, these small but crucial moments add up—leading to gaps in language, literacy, and confidence.

Early Intervention Matters for Children with Hearing Loss - and So Does Preschool

The early years of life are a critical period for brain development, language acquisition, and cognitive growth. For hearing children, much of this happens incidentally—through overhearing conversations, background noise, and spontaneous interactions.

But children with hearing loss don’t have full access to these natural learning experiences. Without specialized instruction, they face delays that can impact their entire educational journey.

Here’s where targeted, research-based support is essential:

✅ Language & Communication Development – Whether a child uses spoken language, sign language, or both, they need structured, direct teaching to build a strong vocabulary, understand sentence structures, and develop communication skills.

✅ Listening & Auditory Skills – For children using hearing aids or cochlear implants, auditory training strengthens their ability to distinguish sounds, improve speech perception, and build listening stamina in real-world settings.

✅ Self-Advocacy & Confidence – Even young children should begin learning how to express when they don’t understand, how to check their hearing devices, and how to navigate communication challenges.

✅ Early Literacy & Math Foundations – Simple concepts like spatial awareness, sequencing, and phonemic awareness are often missed when children don’t overhear language naturally. Structured instruction ensures they develop these essential skills.

✅ Parental & Professional Support – A child’s success depends on a well-equipped team of teachers, parents, speech therapists, and audiologists. Families need guidance on how to create a language-rich environment at home and professionals need to know how to effectively assess and support these children.

How The Online Itinerant Supports Young Children with Hearing Loss

While The Online Itinerant is not an early childhood program, it provides essential training, tools, and resources to help teachers and parents meet the unique needs of young DHH learners.

Through expert-led trainings, interactive resources, and hands-on activities, The Online Itinerant can help you bridge gaps in language, listening, self-advocacy, and academic development.

🔹 Expert-Led Trainings to Build Essential Skills

📌 Supporting Numeracy and Math Development in Young Children – Learn how to teach foundational math concepts that DHH students may miss.

📌 Apps as Interactive Tools to Promote Language – Discover how to use technology to enhance language learning for children using both sign language and spoken language.

📌 The Impact of Hearing Loss on Theory of Mind – Explore how hearing loss affects a child’s ability to understand emotions, social interactions, and the perspectives of others.

📌 Enhancing Caregiver Involvement for Children 6 and Under – Gain insights on helping parents navigate their child’s hearing loss journey with confidence and clarity.

🔹 Hands-On Tools & Ready-to-Use Activities

🎧 Auditory Training Activities – Minimal pairs exercises, auditory discrimination games, and daily listening check activities to strengthen listening skills.

📖 Self-Advocacy Tools – Social stories like Buffy the Bluffer, interactive hearing aid care lessons, and activities that help young children recognize and express their needs.

🤟Sign Language & Literacy Resources – ASL lessons, interactive story videos, and printable flashcards for signing children.

🔍 Early Childhood Language & Concept Building Activities – Games like “Guess the Secret Object,” auditory memory exercises, and interactive books to build foundational communication skills.

🌟 IEP Goal Bank– A full bank of audit-proof IEP goals for self-advocacy, self-identity, and transition skills, complete with benchmarks and assessments.

I recently hosted a Tuesday Tour that showcased 22 tools for working with deaf and hard of hearing children 6 and under.  CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Upcoming Training: Assessing Language Skills in Preschool Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing  (April 2025)

The first step to providing effective intervention is accurate assessment—but assessing young children with hearing loss can be complex. How do we determine their true language abilities? Their auditory access? Their potential?

Join us in April 2025 for an expert-led training with Dr. Allison Sedey, designed to help educators, audiologists, and service providers better assess young children with hearing loss. This session will cover:

🔹 How to select effective standardized and informal assessments
🔹 Specific language assessments that are appropriate for young children who are deaf or hard of hearing
🔹 Practical strategies for gathering meaningful data to guide IEP development

💡 Whether you’re a DHH teacher, speech-language pathologist, early interventionist, or parent, this training will equip you with tools to ensure no child falls through the cracks.

The Power of Early Action

Every missed word, every unheard conversation, and every unaddressed challenge adds up—but so does every opportunity we create.

By providing structured, meaningful interventions, we open doors for young children with hearing loss. We give them the skills they need to engage, connect, and succeed—not just in school, but in life.

Are you ready to make a difference?

📌 Join our upcoming training in April to learn how to assess young children with hearing loss effectively.

📌 Explore The Online Itinerant’s full collection of trainings and activities to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools you need.

🌍 Together, we can ensure that no child with hearing loss is left behind.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE ITINERANT.